If you're looking for the best way to level up your drawing skills, diving into online sketching courses is a game-changer. Whether you're a complete beginner, a rusty dabbler, or someone who dreams of confidently filling sketchbooks, learning from great teachers at your own pace can really accelerate your growth.
I approach sketching in a loose and expressive way—focusing on the big shapes first, then layering in the smaller ones. I love drawing the imperfections too, letting the character of the line shine through. So today, I want to share my honest picks for online sketching courses that helped me grow, and that I think could help you too.
When I first started sketching seriously, I kept getting caught up in wanting my lines to be “correct.” It slowed me down and sucked the joy out of it. It wasn't until I started taking courses that emphasized observation and expression over perfection that things finally clicked.
Now, I sketch with the mindset that every line is a part of the process, even the messy ones. And honestly, the more I embraced that, the better and more lively my drawings became.
Before we jump into the courses, let's talk about how to actually get the most out of them.
Key Points for Choosing and Using Online Sketching Courses
- Practice big shapes first. Start your sketches with the major forms before diving into tiny details. This will give your drawings structure and energy.
- Embrace messy, expressive lines. A “perfect” line isn't the goal—a lively, confident one is. You'll find that your drawings feel more natural and energetic when you let go of trying to be neat.
- Draw what you see, not what you think you see. Observational drawing trains you to really look, which is the foundation for improving. Seeing accurately is a skill that builds over time, and it's way more important than technical “tricks.”
If you want to explore more about building your drawing habit, I’ve got a whole section on drawing topics and simple daily prompts you can use too.
Best Online Sketching Courses to Build Your Skills
How to Draw Without Talent by Danny Gregory
One of the most refreshing courses I’ve ever taken is How to Draw Without Talent. It’s specifically designed to crush the myth that you need some kind of innate gift to be an artist. The course walks you through 26 short, practical video lessons that focus on observational drawing—seeing what’s really there and capturing it in a simple, approachable way.
When I worked through this course, I loved how approachable and human it felt. The instructor, Danny, talks to you like a friend, not a professor. I remember one assignment early on—drawing a simple object from life without worrying about making it perfect—and it was such a relief. It was one of the first times I allowed myself to draw “badly” and still be proud of it.
You'll practice techniques like contour drawing, negative space, and capturing animals, landscapes, and everyday objects. It's perfect if you're just starting or if you’ve been scared off by more formal academic methods. If the idea of sketching sounds fun but intimidating, this course will change that fast.
You can check it out here.
If you like the idea of playful and expressive drawing, you might also enjoy my articles on expressive drawing and why drawing is imperfect.
Foundations by Liz Steel
Another standout for building real skills is Foundations by Liz Steel. This course dives deep into the fundamentals that matter most for sketching—feeling edges, abstracting shapes, and constructing volumes. It's especially helpful if you want to do more urban or on-location sketching but feel overwhelmed.
When I first started sketching outdoors, I would freeze up. I'd try to draw every little window or brick, and end up frustrated. Foundations taught me how to think in terms of big shapes first, and how to let some details fade away to make a stronger, more focused sketch. That shift was massive for me.
Liz breaks everything down into very digestible pieces, and her approach to urban sketching feels more like a friendly challenge than a stiff, academic exercise. She encourages spontaneous sketches, which perfectly matches how I like to draw—loose and lively, not stiff and overworked.
You can start Foundations here.
And if you're aiming to improve your sketching of real-world scenes, definitely check out my posts on how to draw a scene and sketching scenes.
Absolute Beginners Drawing Course by Will Kemp
If you prefer a more structured, step-by-step learning path, the Absolute Beginners Drawing Course from Will Kemp Art School is fantastic. It teaches foundational concepts like line, value, tone, negative space, and perspective, while keeping everything light and beginner-friendly.
I really appreciated how Will Kemp lays out the lessons logically and practically. There's no fluff—just clear steps you can follow. I especially liked how much time he spends on simplifying complex subjects into basic shapes. Once you see things that way, drawing gets a lot less intimidating.
What’s unique about this course is that it combines theory and hands-on practice equally. You’re not just copying; you’re actually understanding why you draw things a certain way. After a few lessons, I felt way more confident about setting up a drawing, even if it was just a quick ten-minute sketch in my sketchbook.
Find the course here.
If you're looking for more ways to get started without overcomplicating things, you might also enjoy my guide on easy ideas for drawing and easy drawing ideas for beginners.
How I Recommend Using These Courses
No matter which course you choose, here’s what I found really helped me get the most out of them:
- Set a small daily practice goal. When I was working through these courses, I set a timer for 15 minutes a day. That's it. Knowing it was such a small commitment made it easier to stick with, and often, I'd get in the zone and keep going longer.
- Focus on observational drawing. Start by drawing what you actually see—not what you “think” should be there. This habit, over time, trains your eye and makes every sketch you do feel more grounded and authentic. Articles like how to find your drawing style and analytical drawing helped me a lot when I got stuck.
- Embrace messy, imperfect sketches. The sooner I accepted that “good” drawings often have scribbles, false starts, and weird lines, the faster I improved. My article about messy drawings dives deeper into this mindset if you need a pep talk.
Also, don't underestimate the power of diving into fun drawing prompts for beginners or exploring different drawing themes for students to keep your creativity flowing.
If you want to dive even deeper into observational skills, you might enjoy learning about implied shapes.
Building a Daily Drawing Habit
One of the biggest turning points for me was realizing that drawing doesn’t have to be a big, intimidating project every time. A little daily habit, like sketching your coffee mug in the morning, or the shape of a tree while you’re on a walk, adds up fast.
I’ve written about drawing boot camp approaches and sketchbook tips for beginners if you’re ready to really dig in.
And if you're looking for specific ideas to fill your sketchbook, things to fill your sketchbook with and sketchbook challenge ideas are great starting points.
Final Thoughts
Taking the time to work through good online sketching courses can be one of the best investments you make in your creative life. It’s not about becoming “perfect” at drawing. It’s about learning to really see, to enjoy the process, and to make drawing a natural part of your daily rhythm. Whether you’re sketching a sunflower, a city scene, or your morning coffee, it’s all part of building your own expressive style.
And if you're feeling stuck or hesitant, I’d encourage you to browse some more of my personal guides, like how to find your drawing style, creative ways to approach drawing, or how to overcome art phobia.
You don’t need special tools or magical talent—you just need to start. Grab a pencil (or a ballpoint pen, or even a crayon), open your sketchbook, and begin. The joy of drawing comes from the doing, not the final product.